Orthopedic shoe



Oct. Z7, 1942. N. D. cALcuLLl 2,300,100

ORTHOPEDIC SHOE` Filed Nov. 19, 1941 Z y19 2 Win01 Patented oef. 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OETHUPEDIC SHOE Nunzio D. Calculli, Bronx, N. Y. Application November 19, 1541, Serial No. 419,677

(c1. se-n) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to shoes, and lhas particular reference to orthopedic shoes.

One object of the invention is to provide a shoe of the character described having improved means to correct foot deformities or conditions causing callouses, or to alleviate the sufferings resulting therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shoe ofthe nature set forth having improved means particularly adapted for the orthopedic treatment of the metatarsal region of the foot.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a shoe of the type referred to having improved means to provide a sole having inherent resilience or yielding qualities operative especially'in con- Junction with the orthopedic arch which tends to flatten downward the forward part of the foot.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the vsubjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a sectional view of a shoe embodying the invention, with parts removed.

Fig. 2 is a bottom View of the sole.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modiiication of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

'I'he advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the lpreferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I denotes a shoe embodying the invention. The same may comprise a sole Il having a plurality of layers of material, such as the main sole section I2 that preferably consists of leather. There is also any heel I3 that may consist of rubber, leather, or other desirable material. At a suitable area along its length the sole may comprise any proper orthopedic arch I4. In advance of this arch and beginning at a point adjacent thereto is a for some time.

recess or opening l5 of sufiicient size to underlie a substantial portion of the metatarsus of the foot. This opening I5 is spaced from the side edges of the sole, and is desirably elongated toward the toe portion of the shoe. Preferably the opening I5 is of maximum depth adjacent to the arch I4 and diminishes gradually in depth ltoward the toe portion of the shoe. 'I'hereby the sole of the shoe becomes a permanently elastic bridge, whose span is determined by the width of said opening.

The conjoint orthopedic action of the arch Il and the opening I5 is that the former, among its other well known functions, tends to shift part of the weight on the foot forwardly, thereby causing the forward part of the foot to flatten down. Corresponding to this action, the sole is relatively plane, to afford the ideal condition of the foot in walking. As a result of this corrective downward flattening of the forward part of the foot, the pressure at the front end portion of the metatarsal arch is substantially increased and this leads to various difficulties which have heretofore perplexed the art. Thus various cushioning devices have been provided to ease the pressure, but these have proven ineffective. For example, sponge rubber, which has been greatly favored, has been found to be inader quate because it loses its resilience and tends to.

become lifeless. Metallic springs have been of some help, but they require exceedingly expert fitting and present various drawbacks which may not be apparent until a person has worn the shoe They greatly increase the cost of manufacture, and have various limitations in respect to positioning and anchorage thereof in the sole of the shoe. These diillculties are solved by the slotted or recessed sole, which thus affords an inherent, non-displaceable cushion for the foot.

I may provide a supplemental cushioning member I6 of a highly resilient or porous yielding material such as sponge rubber, `but the advantages thereof are best realized in conjunction with the conjoint action of vthe arch I0 and the opening I5 which are adjacent thereto, and as will now be briefly described, it being understood that the arch I4 is of sufficient height to supportthe head of the metatarsal arch. -1

As the foot is shifted or urged forwardly by the arch Il, and in consequence flattns down, the pressure on the sponge rubber member I6 is substantially increased. But this added pressure is instantly counteracted by the softness of the member I5, and as it becomes compressed, the

pressure is increasingly. imparted to the central area of the sole II, which yields downwardly at the opening I5. This produces a transverse exure of the sole, which may be a maximum near the arch Hand which diminishes toward the toe portion of the shoe. 'I'hus the sponge rubber member I6 and the recessed sole portion together form a spring which initially deforms easily, but which gradually becomes much stiffer to resiliently carry a substantial weight. |.Since .the sponge rubber member overlies` and extends beyond certain adjacent edges of the opening I5, there is a gradual pressure transition over the edges of the opening so as to avoid any possible discomfort. With a leather of good quality, the resilience of the sole will be indefinitely maintained, and the elastic action of the shoe will not be impaired in any material degree even if the sponge rubber eventually loses much of its springiness. 'I'hus the relatively sharp increase of pressure closely to the forward end of the arch I4 is taken care of in a'manner that is readily adapted to the feet of many different persons. This is an important characteristic especially in a shoe such as herein disclosed, which is adapted for quantity. production.

Desirably the opening I5 is formed by making a cut out in a sheet of leather I1 which-is beveled oil' rearward and tapered off'frontward as shown. This sheet member I1 may be pasted tothe sole member I2. and the outside edges beveled on so that it becomes quite inconspicuous.

Overlying the front section of the sole member I2 is a sheet of a soft yielding material such as cork that may be formed with an opening to receive the sponge rubber member I6. Extending over the latter and the member I8 is another sheet I9 of soft yielding material s uchas cork, which may form the insole and may be reenforced by a. top layer 20 of any suitable pliable fabric such as a sheet of very thin leather or textile fabric. This insole I9, 2|I may also extend over r the arch I I, whose core may consist of a body 2i of cork or other suitable material; and said insole may also extend over the heel I3, preferably with the provision of an intermediate cork layer 22. In order not to expose the cork layers I8, I9 and 22 at the edges of the sole, marginal strips 23 of leather may be disposed to enclose the cork material..

Ii' desired, a sponge rubber insert 24 may be provided at the heel, as by forming a recess 'therein and an opening 25 in the adjacent part of the layer I2. Similar inserts may be provided at other points in the shoe, for example, under the big toe of the foot or wherever special pressure areas exist.

In Figs. 4 and 5 isshown a shoe 26 having a sole 21 according to a modification of the invention, which illustrates how an opening such as I5 may be disposed within the body of the sole. Here the main sole layer is l2a, with the elongated central opening I5a being formed in the layer I1a so that the said opening lies in the same relationship to the arch Ila as illustrated for the shoe I0. Overlying the deepest part of the opening I5a is the sponge rubber member Ilia, but preferably I provide an intermediate leather sheet 28 having an opening 29. Thus the member lia may normally lie above the layer 28 as in Fig.- 4, but under pressure it may bulge down finto the opening 29 as in Fig. 5, and mayeven If desired, theVV bear down on the layer I2a. opening 29 may be omitted, but the structure shown is desirable for severe foot ailments. The sole is completed by the cork layers IBa and ISa and by the finishing top layer 20a.

The operation and advantages of the shoe may be substantially like those of the shoe I0, except that the sponge rubber member is vdeflectable in part into an .opening -or recess for increased resilience.

Although thesoles are shown as consisting of various layers, it will be understood that these may be reduced or varied. Thus the openings such as I5 and i5a may be formed by molding or in other suitable manner. The term flayer" may thus denote section. Although leather is particularly referred to herein, it will be understood that other materials, composition or natural, may be used which have the requisite elasticity, strength, and durablity. The term leather-like may denote all such materials. Preferably the materials used should permit free evaporation of perspiration and for this reason I prefer to employ adhesives suitable for that purpose in securing together the various 'layers herein shown. y

It will thus be seen that I have provided an orthopedic shoe which fulfills the objects of the invention and is well adapted for practical use.

I claim:

l. A shoe lhaving a sole consisting principally of leather and having the characteristic resilience thereof, the sole having an elongated external recess spaced from the side edges thereof and having its inner end at the front end of the metatarsal arch of the foot and extending continuously to the front end of the sole, the sole being of such uniform thickness at all points of thev recess as to maintain transverse resiliencel in the sole along the recess, said recess increasing in depth toward its inner end to afford a maximum range of flexibility with respect to the bottom surface of the sole, the portion of the sole beyond the said inner end having the full thickness of the sole and being closely adjacent to the metatarsal arch and constituting the only abutment transverse. to said recess, and the bottom iace of the sole lying otherwise -in a plane, the sole comprising a member of porous cushioning material located above the recess solely adjacent to and forward of the transverse abutment.

2. A shoe having a sole consisting principally of leather and having the characteristic resilience thereof, the sole having an elongated external recess spaced from the side edges thereof and having its inner end at the front end of the metatarsal arch of the foot and extending continuously to the front end of the sole, the

sole being of such uniform thickness at all points of the recess as to maintain transverse resilience in the sole along the recess, said recess increasing in depth toward its inner end to afford a maximum range of flexibility with respect to the bottom surface of the sole, the portion of the sole beyond the said inner end having the full thickness of the sole and being closely adjacent to the metatarsal arch and constituting the only abutment transverse to said recess, and the bottom face of the sole lying otherwise in a plane, the sole comprising a metatarsal arch spaced rearward of the recess, and a member of porous, resilient cushioning material Vlocated in advance of the arch and overlying the recess only at its area nf maximum depth.

. NUNZIO D. CALCULLI. 

